Opunake or Opunaki as
it was once known was a clearing hacked out of
dense bush that had migrated down from the steep
slopes of Mt Taranaki.
More notably was Te Namu Pa at the northern tip of the
bay beside the clearing and Matakaha, a village on the
southern headland at the mouth of the Waiaua River.
I have taken these notes from “The Clearing” written
by Mrs Kate Mickelson, QSM, a lady born and bred in Opunake.
Mrs Mickelson has kindly allowed me to quote from her
book and I will continue this story with snippets, in
her well written words instead on my humble attempt.
“Until 1865 there was no European settlement from Tarataimaka to Patea,
and apart from a strip of land along the coast the country was covered by
beautiful dense forest, right to the centre of the North Island.
There were many clearings, mostly near river mouths,
which were occupied by Maori pas. Perhaps the most famous
of all was Te Namu, consisting of two palisaded fortifications
at the north-western boundary of Opunake, one at the
mouth of the Otahi River, and the other at the opposite
end of Te Namu Bay.
Te Namu Pa was presided over by Wiremu Kingi Matakatea,
and the hapu consisted of some 400 men, women and children.
Before the turn of the century flax mills were operating
at both the Otahi and Waiaua Rivers. Good men earned
five shillings a day and boys earned two shillings and
sixpence. The township was first surveyed by Mr O. Carrington
in 1868.
By 1869 when war with the Hauhaus in South Taranaki had
ended, the population of Taranaki was estimated at 4,000.
Hawera, Normanby, Stratford, Inglewood and Eltham were
not yet on the map, but Opunake was a year old and showing
signs of becoming a progressive settlement.”

Kind thanks to the late Mrs
Kate Mickelson, Q.S.M for allowing me to quote from
her book, 'The Clearing.'